CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING NO. 5
December 14, 2006
M I N U T E S
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair, Praveen Soni, called the meeting to order in the Towner Auditorium. All voting members were present except: CBA: K. Lacey, E. Smith; CLA: E. Klink; CED: T. Lewis, H. Masunaga; COTA: D. Jacques; CNSM: G. Pickett; STDSVCS: J. Prince; ADMIN: D. Dowell; STAFF: V. Jacobo; STUDENTS: J. Martins; EX OFFICIO: M. Crego, L. Kingsford, M. Khan. EXCUSED ABSENCES: L. Huckabay, T. Kelty, M. Merryfield, V. Rodriguez, A. Taylor, C. Weaver.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The Agenda for the December 14, 2006 Academic Senate meeting was approved with the following revision: Item 4.1, Campus Master Plan, would come after Item 4.2, Report.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the November 16, 2006 Academic Senate meeting were approved as distributed.
4. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS
4.1 Executive Committee
4.11 Announcements:
a. Kiry Meng gave birth to baby girl Kaleen, weighing 7lbs. 14oz., 19 inches long on Monday, December 11. Mother and child are doing great. She will be on maternity leave until April 2, 2007.
a. Donna Reese, Assistant to the Academic Senate Chair will remain away from the office on an extended sick leave so that she can have a few months to recuperate.
b. Mary McGraa, retired from the Academic Senate and returned to assist during Donna’s absence is taking a well-deserved hiatus from the Senate Office.
c. Bobbi Moreland and Beth Smith are attending to the needs of the Academic Senate temporarily taking over the duties of Kiry and Donna.
d. The Discontinuance Panel members for Liberal Studies Track II are: B. Johnson, T. Caron, N. Cheffer, D. Hood, D. Huckaby, S. Reddy, T. Lewis.
e. The Ad Hoc Committee on Self-Support/State Support programs include: J. Houck, C. Lindsay, H. Okahana, H. O’Lawrence, J. Kvapil, K. Freesemann, D. Hood.
f. Two separate Taskforce are forming for the Policy on Faculty Academic Advising and Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award.
g. The Mission and Vision summary from the Senate Retreat of October 13, 2006 is posted on Beach Board and the Academic Senate website. An interdivisional team is working on a draft of each.
h. The Institutional Proposal approved by WASC affirmed that CSULB is doing an outstanding job and embodies a model for institutions. Some questions posed by the review team include Program Review, GWAR, Distance Education topics, and Student Portfolios for measuring assessment.
i. On February 23, 2007 a Campus Conversation will take place on the six domains listed under the Cornerstones II—Access to Excellence CSU system-wide strategic plan exercise proposed by the Board of Trustees. Planning and implementation will include the Academic Senate and Associated Students.
j. Application materials for Outstanding Professor Award, the Nicholas Perkins Hardeman Academic Leadership Award, Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, and the Distinguished Faculty Scholarly and Creative Achievement Award are due February 12, 2007 by 5:00 p.m.
4.12 Election of Vice Chair of the Academic Senate
Chair Soni opened the floor to nominations. Senator Costa nominated Keith Freesemann, Department of Kinesiology and current Academic Senate Secretary citing a long career of service and committee work; Senator Viera nominated Emma Daugherty Phillingane, Department of Journalism and currently serving on the Executive Committee; and Senator Yamada nominated Jalal Torabzadeh, Department of Engineering and also currently serving on the Executive Committee. Hearing no other nominations, ballots were distributed and counted. The results, in order of votes received, were as follows:
Emma Daughtery Phillingane
Jalal Torabzadeh
Keith Freesemann
Having no clear majority, ballots were passed out once again in a run-off between the top two candidates: Emma Daughtery Phillingane and Jalal Torabzadeh. Emma Daughtery Phillingane received a majority vote and elected Vice-Chair for the remainder of the 2006-07 year.
4.13 Senator Daughtery Phillingane’s election to the Vice Chair position created an open seat on the Executive Committee. Chair Soni opened the floor to nominations.
Senator Veira nominated Jay Kvapil for the position. Jay Kvapil, Department of Design and Academic Senator, has previously served the Senate for 10 years, including positions on the Executive Committee, supplying him with a notable amount of executive experience. No other nominations were made. Jay Kvapil was elected to the Executive Committee for the remainder of the 2006-07 year.
4.2 Nominating Committee—Keith Freesemann
4.21 Search Committee
Recommendation for Replacement Appointment to Review Committee for Cecile Lindsay.
Keith Freesemann, Chair of the Nominating Committee, explained that there was a misunderstanding concerning the nominees for Dr. Cecile’s Lindsay’s Review Committee at the last election. Senator Klink withdrew her name and asked to be replaced. He nominated Laura Forrest. No nominations were made from the floor. Laura Forrest was elected to serve on the Review Committee for Dr. Cecile Lindsay.
4.22 Nominations for appointment to the Search Committee for the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs—Academic Personnel.
Keith Freesemann presented the following nominees for consideration: Judy Allen, Arts; Margaret Costa, Health and Human Services; Kenneth Green, Liberal Arts; Zvonimir Hlousek, Natural Sciences & Mathematics; Eileen Klink, Liberal Arts. Chair Soni opened the floor to nominations, hearing none, the slate of nominees was elected to serve on the Search Committee for the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs—Academic Personnel.
4.23 Non-Academic Administrative Reviews.
The following tenured faculty nominations, with no additional nominees coming from the floor, were M/S/P: Toni Beron—Christopher Miles; Rene Twigg—Eileen Wakiji; and for Van Novak—there was a call for nominees, having none, Chair Freesemann asked those who might be interested to submit names to the Nomination Committee.
4.24 Other Nominations
Chair Freesemann announced the following nominations for GWAR Committee, with no further nominations from the floor, each was elected to serve:
Karin Griffin, Library; Colleen Dunagan, Arts; and Rebekha Abbuhl, Liberal Arts.
He announced the following nominations for WPE Development Committee, with no further nominations from the floor, each was elected to serve:
Colleen Dunagan, Arts; Anastasios Chassiakos, Engineering; Deborah Gaut, Business; Olga Rubio, Education; and Erylene Piper-Mandy, Liberal Arts.
Chair Freesemann announced the following nominations for WPE Waiver Committee, with no further nominations from the floor, each was elected to serve:
Marianne Muller, Liberal Arts.
4.31 Consent Calendar
4.31A Ad Hoc Committee on Patents and Copyrights (AS-710-06/EC) –FIRST DISTRIBUTION.
4.31B Policy on Professional Responsibility (Policy 00-07) (AS-711-06/EC)—FIRST DISTRIBUTION.
A second distribution is slated for the next agenda.
4.4 CFA Report
Lydia Sondhi, President, CSULB Chapter of CFA, wished all a happy holiday before reporting on spring events. She reported that the CFA had little hope that the last mediation meeting would provide any meaningful progress in negotiations. On February 5 there will be a call for nominations for the local 22 member board of the CFA representing all facets of interest on the campus. February 6 is an Information Picket in a question and answer format. February 13, is an All Faculty Roadshow where representatives will be out on campus to dispense information and answer question. February 23 the election ballots distributed, and in late February or early March members of the CFA will be asked to vote for action. Only those who are members can vote, she encouraged everyone to have a voice by joining the CFA.
5. REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES--None
6. SPECIAL ORDERS
6.1 Report of the President (Time Certain 2:15 p.m.)
· President Alexander announced Mike Mahoney, Dean of Engineering, is leaving CSULB to assume the post of Provost of CSU East Bay in March. At the encouragement of the President, Mike thanked the university for his 26 years of experience and expressed appreciation for the Academic Senate’s teaching him how a university really works. President Alexander assured the Senate that he was working to initiate a search for a new Dean of Engineering as quickly as possible.
· The President is grateful for everyone’s participation and work for the WASC review and felt that its acknowledgement of the university’s “model report” was well deserved. His response to the recommendations of WASC was that they the university community is up to the challenge and already off to an excellent start.
· He gave a brief report on the study by the Campus Safety Committee suggestions for additional lighting of darker areas on campus, particularly around Bellflower. President Alexander addressed a question posed by Senator Olson concerning increased lighting around the Palo Verde area of the campus by affirming that the campus will continue to work with the city of Long Beach to brighten the University for the safety of everyone.
· Campus fundraising increases by nearly one-third during the holiday season; the President joked that the telephone lines would be opened through the holidays to accept donations. On a more serious note, he remarked that contributions to the university were up this year over past years by 13 million dollars. Along the lines of educational giving, President Alexander stated his desire to recruit 50 scholars for the President’s Scholars Program and endow them through scholarships. He informed the Senate concerning the Spelling Commission report, (a report authorized by the Department of Education to address four major concerns: cost, financial aid – need-based v. merit-based, learning outcomes, and achievement gaps) that CSULB looks favorable in comparison to other universities and educational institutions in the country.
· President Alexander asserted his financial concerns for the university by summarizing the following points of interest: where will earmarks fall in years to come with the turnover in congress; can we expect a reduction in student loan interest rates; on the state side, challenges to the budget may push the higher-education compact; and what will happen with student fees and a looming 10 percent increase. On the later issue, he encouraged students and parents to look at dollars over percentages noting a 10 percent increase is approximately $126.00 which is a reasonable amount in the battle over affordability.
· He closed with a wish to all for a safe, happy holiday and encouraged faculty and staff to be watchful of our students under stress from classes, finals, travel, and holiday issues, instructing all, if necessary, to direct these students to the Counseling Center.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
8. NEW BUSINESS
8.1 NCAA Faculty Representative (AS-707-06/COA)—Action
Chair Soni explained that four faculty members submitted application materials for CSULB’s NCAA Faculty Representative. The Committee on Athletics (COA) reviewed and deliberated on the applications. As per policy, the Committee on Athletics shall recommend a minimum of two names to the Academic Senate for consideration; however, because the COA considered all four candidates to be decidedly qualified, the COA forwarded all four names to the Academic Senate. He then explained that the policy states that the Academic Senate shall recommend at least one name to the President to select as NCAA Faculty Representative.
Senator Viera moved to recommend that two names be sent to the President selected by a majority vote of the Senate. Upon clarification by Senator Hood, each Senator would serially vote for one candidate at a time. There would be a vote for the first nominee, the ballots would be collected and counted, electing the applicant with the majority of votes. Then a second vote would follow with the ballots being collected and counted selecting the next applicant with the majority of votes. The Senate would then forward both names to the President for his consideration. He suggested that there be a call for a declaration that this is how the voting process would take place. The declaration was accepted and Senator Viera’s motion passed.
Dan O’Connor, Education; Brenda Vogel, Health and Human Services; Mike Walter, Business; and Ron Vogel speaking on behalf of absent nominee Dixie Grimmett, each had approximately three to five minutes to address the Senate. Chair Soni then called for a vote for the first nominee. Ballots were distributed and counted culminating in a run-off between Dan O’Connor and Brenda Vogel both of whom received the most number of votes, but not a clear majority. In the run-off, Dan O’Connor was elected by majority vote as a recommendation for the President’s consideration. Chair Soni called for the second of the two elections and ballots were distributed, cast, and counted with Brenda Vogel elected by majority vote as the other name to be forwarded to the President.
8.2 M.S. in Nursing, Option in Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (AS-706-06/CEP/URC)—FIRST READING
Senator Kellogg was asked to speak about implementing this program. She said the community expressed a need for nurses in this area. It’s been approved by the Board of Nursing and the National Certifying Board. The program is part of ELM, entry level into masters program for second degree students. There were no further questions.
8.3 Campus Civility and the Disruption of Learning: A Guide for Faculty and Staff (AS-708-06/FPPC)—Endorsement
The motion was made by Senator Decyk and seconded by Senator Colburn. Senator Kellogg spoke to the Senate and stated that there is a need to address the situation based on the fact that there is an increasing amount of students who are disrupting the flow of classroom learning. After looking at the policies of other universities and collecting campus review and input, this is the final revision intended as a guideline for faculty that may not know how to respond to such students. Included in the document are all the resources on campus that are available to faculty to refer an offending student for assistance. The motion as passed.
8.4 Revision: Policy Promoting Access and Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination, harassment, and Retaliation (Policy 03-09) (AS-709-06/EC)—FIRST READING
Dr. Kirstyn Chun, from Counseling and Psychological Services, and Student Advisor, gave a brief presentation on terminology and the importance to students and the community concerning the relevance of including definitive terms such as gender identity and transgender in the current policy.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 4:00 P.M.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Beth Smith Keith Freesemann
Recording Secretary Pro Tem Secretary of the Senate
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